Month: August 2025

bookmark_borderDisrespect for Italian American heritage in Newton, MA

Posted on by Marissa

I haven’t had time to write in depth about the situation in Newton, MA in which the mayor ordered the erasure of red, green, and white stripes down the center of a main road in the city’s predominantly Italian American neighborhood. The mayor, Ruthanne Fuller, claimed that traffic regulations necessitated her actions, and I don’t have enough knowledge to form an opinion on whether or not this is true. But it certainly seems discriminatory to erase the colors of the Italian flag at the same time as communities all across the state and country have been actively painting crosswalks with colors that represent gay and trans people.

In lieu of writing a longer blog post, I am going to share an excellent post from the Italian American Civil Rights League (IACRL), which you can read here.

An excerpt:

“Why is there a push to erase the heritage, the contributions, and the cultural gifts that Italian Americans have given to this country? This isn’t just about paint on a road. This is about erasing history. Dismissing legacy. Silencing pride”

Amen to that.

The IACRL made another post about the community’s response to the erasure, which included attempts by residents to repaint the lines, resulting in one individual being briefly arrested. “What was erased in silence is being restored in unity,” the post notes. I agree with the IACRL that seeing the locals repainting the symbol of their heritage is a beautiful thing indeed. I admire their bravery and spirit.

bookmark_borderThe best $10 million ever spent…

Posted on by Marissa

I fully agree with this post by Dixie Forever stating that the financial cost of restoring the Confederate Monument at Arlington National Cemetery – estimated at $10 million according to an article by the Associated Press – will be worth it. Dixie Forever suggests using the money to fully clean and restore the memorial itself, as well as adding flag poles, historically accurate explanatory plaques, and perhaps even improvements to the surrounding street and its sign.

I also agree with the following sentiments expressed in the post, which I believe are a quote from Virginia Lt. Governor candidate John Reid:

“No matter how one feels about the north or the south or the civil war- we all used to leave dead people and cemeteries alone. The fact that Democrats couldn’t control their hate for dead people and their inclination to be dictators in the modern era is gross and telling.”
 
Exactly.
 
Before the past few years, the continued existence of statues and monuments – and particularly ones located in cemeteries – was not a political issue. It was not up for debate. It was unanimously accepted, regardless of one’s political beliefs and regardless of one’s opinions about the historical figure(s) in question. Removing statues was simply not a thing. It was not a thing that anyone did; it was not a thing that anyone proposed or supported or advocated or argued in favor of; it was not a thing that anyone even considered doing. It was simply accepted that if a statue or monument was put up, then it is up. It exists. Permanently. Period. Full stop. And that is the way it should be. The phenomenon of removing statues is a recent invention. And I am not exaggerating when I say that it is an abomination. Statues are not supposed to be removed. It is simply not the way the world is supposed to work.
 
Indeed, we all used to leave dead people and cemeteries alone. And the fact that we stopped doing so is the most atrocious, the most reprehensible, the most despicable, the most horrifying, and the most immoral thing that has ever happened in the history of the world.
 
To hate dead people demonstrates complete moral bankruptcy. Dead people pose no threat. They are powerless. They cannot hurt you in any way. To destroy their statues and monuments is the epitome of cruelty. It is the epitome of punching down. It is the epitome of a bully beating up on an underdog. To call this behavior gross is an understatement. 

bookmark_borderA win for Columbus Day in Philadelphia

Posted on by Marissa

The good news continues: an order by intolerant, authoritarian former mayor Jim Kenney to abolish Columbus Day in the city of Philadelphia has been overturned by a court. According to Judge Patricia A. McCollough of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the executive order that Kenney signed in 2021 “runs afoul of the separation of powers… and, accordingly, is invalid.”

Source: We The Italians

See also: column by Primo Magazine, with more details and quotes

bookmark_borderA new sign at mega flag site in Alabama

Posted on by Marissa

Another piece of positive news: the site of a huge Confederate battle flag in Alabama has been spruced up with a new sign. The flag, along highway I-65 between Montgomery and Birmingham, is maintained by the Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp. It received a new, permanent sign this past weekend after the previous one was destroyed by a storm.

Source: Dixie Forever

More photos can be seen at this Facebook post by the Prattville Dragoons.

bookmark_borderFantastic news re: Arlington National Cemetery!

Posted on by Marissa

Another piece of excellent news regarding statues: the Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery will be put back up! 

Last night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the following statement:

“I’m proud to announce that Moses Ezekiel’s beautiful and historic sculpture — often referred to as ‘The Reconciliation Monument’ – will be rightfully returned to Arlington National Cemetery near his burial site. It never should have been taken down by woke lemmings. Unlike the Left, we don’t believe in erasing American history – we honor it.”

What happened at Arlington National Cemetery in December of 2023 was one of the absolute worst atrocities committed as part of the statue genocide. Proponents of the genocide frequently argue that statues of unpopular historical figures do not belong in public parks or city squares, and that it is more appropriate for them to be located at museums, battlefields, or cemeteries. But this statue was located in a cemetery, marking soldiers’ graves, and people still demanded that it be removed. 

Now, this wrong will be righted. This atrocity will be undone. Just as with the Albert Pike statue that I posted about yesterday, on this monument, the bullies have lost. The trauma inflicted by the statue genocide will never fully heal, and most likely the majority of these sickening instances of destruction will never be reversed. But two particularly despicable instances will actually be reversed, if everything goes according to plan. And that is something that, a year ago, I did not think possible. Things like this are exactly why I voted for Donald Trump. I am thrilled by this amazing news. Hallelujah! 

Here are some links to posts and coverage:

bookmark_borderFantastic news on the Albert Pike statue

Posted on by Marissa

A truly fantastic piece of news: the statue of Albert Pike, sickeningly attacked and destroyed by vicious bigots on Juneteenth of 2020, will be put back up.

According to the National Review, the National Park Service will be re-erecting the statue in October. “The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nation’s capital and re-instate preexisting statues,” the NPS said.

It’s not clear exactly where Pike will be going, but this is excellent news indeed. Pike was both a Freemason leader and a Confederate general, and his statue depicts him wearing Masonic garb, making it somewhat unique. The statue had been severely damaged in the disgusting attack and had been held in storage by the NPS. My guess is that repairs have been done on the statue behind the scenes, making him ready for his resurrection.

At the time of the appalling act of intolerance, President Trump called the police’s failure to intervene “a disgrace to our country.” I wholeheartedly agree with him. Trump also personally asked for the statue to be re-erected, but with so many things going on at the time, and with his term nearing an end, he lacked the leverage to make this happen. Five years later, it is happening. Just like me, President Trump never forgot about this statue. This is exactly why I voted for Trump. Pike’s resurrection demonstrates that to President Trump, my perspective matters, my feelings matter, and my life matters.

The images of what was done to the Pike statue on Juneteenth of 2020 are absolutely horrifying and will live in my consciousness forever. Reading the description of what happened – which I will not reproduce here – makes me sick to my stomach, and probably always will. It is completely incomprehensible that a person – let alone multiple people – would choose to do this to a statue. An innocent statue, that never hurt anyone. A statue that signifies people who are different from the norm, and our right to be accepted and included in society. There are no words adequate to the task of fully expressing my hatred of this action and the people who committed it. 

(I appreciate the National Review‘s characterization of the perpetrators as “rioters protesting against what they saw as racial injustice.” Emphasis added by me, to point out some very important words that most media outlets do not bother to include, but all should be required to.)

I’ve sustained so much trauma on the subject of statues that any positive news on this topic seems, on some level, too good to be true. But if Pike’s resurrection does indeed come to pass, it means that on this particular statue, the bullies lost. 

The bullies, who have no tolerance for anyone different from themselves, no empathy, no regard for others’ perspectives, feelings, viewpoints, or thoughts. 

The bullies who chose to celebrate Juneteenth by engaging in a vicious demonstration of intolerance and cruelty.

The bullies whose goal is the obliteration of anyone who is different.

They lost. 

And there is nothing more beautiful than that.

PS: Confederate Coffee Company phrased it pretty eloquently as well:

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by A Proud Confederate Business. The Coffee of the South. (@confederatecoffeecompany)

bookmark_borderMassachusetts Republican Party passes resolution in support of Columbus Day

Posted on by Marissa

According to the Italian American Alliance, the Massachusetts Republican Party has unanimously passed a resolution in support of Columbus Day:

“On Thursday July 31st, the Massachusetts Republican State Committee held their quarterly meeting. One of the resolutions to be voted on was offered by State Committeeman Nicholas Miceli. Mr. Miceli was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior commitment in Washington DC and so extended the honor of reading the Resolution to Virginia (Papa) Gardner, Chair of the National Chapter of the Italian American Alliance. The resolution was passed unanimously.”

The full text of the resolution is as follows:

Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party stands with the Commonwealth’s Italian Americans, Spanish Americans, Catholic Americans, historians, and other devoted citizens in steadfastly supporting preservation of the second Monday of October as “Columbus Day” which is currently the federally recognized holiday.

Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party acknowledges the history of the holiday. Columbus Day was instituted as part of an agreement between the United States and Italy to avoid a pending war in the aftermath of the horrific lynching of eleven Italians in New Orleans in 1891. Ever after, it has been commemorated for Italians to celebrate their heritage and collective contributions to the United States.

Whereas: The Knights of Columbus celebrate Columbus Day, knowing that the explorer brought Christianity to the New World – giving voice and representation to generations of Catholics.

Whereas: We already honor and celebrate the Indigenous community, on Native American Heritage Day the Friday after Thanksgiving in November.

Whereas: The Massachusetts Republican Party stands with the sentiment expressed by President Donald J. Trump who stated that he is “bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes.”

Be It Resolved: That the Massachusetts Republican Party stands in opposition to the repeal of the Federal Holiday of Columbus Day. The Massachusetts Republican Party will stand against canceling the historical figure who has served as a symbol of pride for many Americans and:

1. Recognize Columbus Day

2. Oppose the destruction of Columbus statues

3. Acknowledge the discrimination against Italian Americans

4. Oppose efforts to erase culture

5. Stand against hate of ALL ethnic groups

6. Celebrate both Italian and Indigenous peoples both on their respective holidays

Thank you to the MassGOP for taking a stand for what is right.

(source here)

bookmark_borderThe immorality of Chris Murphy

Posted on by Marissa

I agree 100% with the following post from the Firearms Policy Coalition:

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy)

To implement a $4,709 tax on gun products is mean-spirited and despicable. By proposing doing so, Murphy demonstrates his aggressive bigotry and his contempt for people who are different from him. 

Sickeningly, the organization Brady United Against Gun Violence thanked Murphy “for introducing this critical amendment to strike the provision in the big UGLY bill that removed taxes on deadly silencers & other uniquely lethal weapons, and instead adjust taxes to reflect inflation today.”

First of all, Murphy’s amendment is not “critical” – it’s actually critical not to pass an amendment like Murphy’s because it violates people’s rights. Second, the bill in question is not “UGLY” as Brady nastily claims. It is called the Big, Beautiful Bill, and for the most part it lives up to that name. Third, taxes on silencers and other gun products should not be adjusted to reflect inflation. They should be eliminated, exactly as the provision in the Big, Beautiful Bill does, because people are not doing anything wrong by buying these products, and therefore should not be punished with an exorbitant tax for doing so.

Both Chris Murphy as an individual, and Brady as an organization, are dedicated to hurting people who are different from them, punishing people who have done nothing wrong, and violating people’s fundamental rights, They act as if hurting and punishing innocent people somehow gives them the moral high ground, when in reality that is the exact opposite of the truth. Seeing them sycophantically praise each other for their hurtful and mean-spirited actions is disgusting. It’s about time that these actions and words be called what they are: immoral.

bookmark_borderRespecting people’s fundamental rights is not “weak”

Posted on by Marissa
 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy)

“A gunman from a state with weak gun laws”

As a commenter on the post wrote, “‘Weak gun laws’ you mean states that don’t infringe on the 2nd amendment.”

Yup. States that actually – gasp! – respect people’s fundamental rights. Can’t have that, apparently.

News flash, Governor Hochul: Respecting people’s fundamental rights is not “weak.”

It’s a basic moral obligation.

It’s basic human decency.

There’s nothing “strong” about punishing innocent people for the actions of others.

There’s nothing “strong” about violating people’s fundamental rights.

How about, when a person does something bad, we actually blame the person, rather than blaming the government for not violating the rights of all people in an attempt to prevent a person from doing something bad?

Just a thought.